USD Graduates Commissioned as Navy, Marine Corps Officers Aboard USS Midway
Eight University of San Diego (USD) graduates took their oaths as commissioned officers in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps during a ceremony aboard the USS Midway on Thursday, May 21, joining 21 other new officers drawn from San Diego-area universities.
The commissioning recognized 29 new officers in total — 20 ensigns and nine second lieutenants — marking the completion of their Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) programs and the formal start of their military careers.
Among the newly commissioned USD officers were ENS Cliff Blanchard, ENS Sergio Gaytan, ENS Daisy Martinez, ENS Salome Medina, ENS Edward Montague, ENS David Ordaz and ENS Julissa Pacheco Trejo into the Navy and 2nd Lt Aliyah Dickey was commissioned into the Marine Corps.
The ceremony included special recognition for top academic and leadership performance. ENS Salome Medina of USD and ENS Ethan Johnson of San Diego State University were honored as the battalion's top graduates, each receiving a ceremonial sword presented on behalf of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) San Diego Chapter.
VADM Brendan McLane, Commander of Naval Surface Forces, Pacific Fleet, delivered the commissioning address, drawing on San Diego's deep ties to service.
“We’re not only celebrating the commissioning of new naval leadership, we’re also celebrating the rich tradition of excellence that defines the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps," McLane said. "How fortunate to celebrate this milestone in a city defined by its world-class universities and its unwavering commitment to our armed forces. San Diego is more than a beautiful backdrop for our college years — it’s the Pacific bastion of the Navy and Marine Corps.”
McLane outlined the scope of the military’s presence in San Diego, noting that the region is home to 110,000 active-duty service members, meaning one in six sailors in the U.S. Navy and one in four Marines call San Diego home. He said nearly 200,000 veterans have chosen the city as their permanent residence.
“San Diego is the nerve center of our west coast operations,” McLane said. “Our training centers are adjacent to leading academic and innovation centers, creating a unique ecosystem for rapid development and integration of new technologies. San Diego’s people, infrastructure and institutions are the backbone of our ability to project powerful peace.”
McLane also pointed to a recent operational example to illustrate the real-world responsibilities awaiting the new officers. He described how, on April 19, the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) intercepted a cargo vessel in the north Arabian Sea as it transited toward Iran in violation of a U.S. naval blockade. After a six-hour standoff in which the vessel’s crew failed to comply with repeated warnings, Spruance disabled the vessel’s propulsion by firing several rounds from its 5-inch MK 45 gun into the ship’s engine room. U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later boarded and secured the vessel.
"The main propulsion officer," McLane noted, "graduated from college just last year."
Two commanding officers of active Navy warships attended the ceremony in a show of support for the incoming officers, making a professional connection immediate for at least two of the newly commissioned officers., CDR. Molly Lawton, Commanding Officer of USS Halsey (DDG 97), and CDR. Brittany Kaluscak, Commanding Officer of USS O'Kane (DDG 77), were both present in the audience. ENS Stephen Boguszewski of San Diego State University will report to USS Halsey, while USD's ENS Daisy Martinez will report to USS O'Kane.
Photos by Ken Jacques Photography